Industry body for withdrawal of export-pass-fee on molasses

Though the Andhra Pradesh Government has permitted export of 10,000 tonnes of molasses, the imposition of export-pass-fee of Rs 2,500 a tonne has made the commodity uncompetitive in the international markets, according to the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham).

Stressing the urgent withdrawal of the export-pass-fee, Assocham pointed out that the other sugar producing states like Gujarat, Maharashtra and UP were not charging any such fee.

In a press release here on Monday, Assocham said the current FOB export price of molasses was $110 or about Rs 6,000 a tonne while the state government was charging Rs 2,500 as export pass fee. The fee accounts for 42.5 of the FOB value of export.

The state government issued a notification on November 10, 2008 imposing the fee on export of molasses.